// CUSTOM SOFTWARE
Custom software
Bespoke systems for the parts of your business that off-the-shelf software does not fit well.
Many businesses run on a combination of tools that each meet only part of their needs: an accounting package, a CRM, several spreadsheets, and one member of staff who knows how to move information between them. That arrangement works until that person is unavailable. We build bespoke software for small and growing businesses, including internal systems, integrations between the tools you already use, and replacements for older systems that have become difficult to change.
What we build
Custom software covers a wide range of work. Most of our projects fall into one of the following categories, and many combine more than one of them.
- Internal systems for quoting, job tracking, stock, bookings or rosters, often replacing a spreadsheet that has outgrown its purpose
- Integrations that connect your online store, accounting package and courier, so that orders no longer need to be captured twice
- Customer portals where your clients log in to view documents, invoices or the progress of their work
- Reports and dashboards built from data you already hold
- Modernisation of older systems that still work but have become difficult to change
When custom software is the right choice
Custom software is not always the right answer, and we will tell you early if we think it is not. If an established product covers most of what you need, it is usually better to use it and adapt your process for the remainder.
Custom software makes sense when the way you work is part of what sets your business apart, or when your staff are spending time on work that a computer should be doing. Discovery Week is a good way to establish which of these applies to your business before you commit to a build.
Modernising older systems
Many businesses depend on a system that was built years ago. It generally works, but only one person understands it, it cannot easily be moved to a new server, and every change carries a risk of breaking something else.
We do not recommend switching such a system off and rebuilding everything at once, as projects of that kind often stall for long periods. Instead we replace it in stages. We move one part at a time onto a modern platform, keep the existing system running alongside it, and switch over once each new part has proven itself in use. This approach reduces risk and, in our experience, usually reaches the end result sooner.
How we build and maintain it
We look after the software we build, and that affects how we build it. We write tests, keep the design simple and document the decisions that matter, because we will be responsible when something needs attention.
Simple systems cost less to run and are easier to hand over. If you decide to bring development in-house in future, your own team should be able to take over the system without starting again, and we would regard that as a successful outcome.
You deal directly with the engineers doing the work. Our engineers are graded by skill rather than years of experience, and we keep our structure lean. This keeps costs down and keeps the people who understand your system in direct contact with you.
// FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you connect to the software we already use?
Usually. Most modern tools provide an API, which is a defined way for other software to read and write their data. Older or more closed systems can be more difficult, and we will investigate properly before making any commitment.
Our old system has no documentation. Can you still work with it?
Yes, that is common. We begin by reviewing the code and the database to establish what the system actually does, which sometimes differs from what people believe it does. We then document it, so that your business no longer depends on a single person's knowledge.
Do I own the code?
Yes. What we build for you belongs to you, and we keep it in a condition that another developer could take over.
What happens when our needs change after it's built?
Changing requirements are expected. We build systems from small, separate parts so that a change in one area does not affect everything else, and our support covers small changes as your business develops.
// RELATED SERVICES
Discovery Week
A short first engagement, usually about a week, that establishes what you are building, what it is likely to take, and whether we are the right team to build it.
Support and maintenance
Fixes, updates, monitoring and small changes that keep the software we built for you working as it should.
App development
Mobile and web apps for small businesses and founders, built to be straightforward to maintain once people start using them.